Carb Choices

[Explorer]

I like to allow a little lead time buying parts to get the best price. My build is in another post. 200 ci, CI aluminum head, 256/256 .450 lift cam, CI intake, 9.5 compression, headers. The Autolite 4100 seems to be best choice, but how does the Holley 0-8007 stack up against it? Can't find the venturi sizes for it. Or any other 4v that is easier to find than the 4100 that will fill the bill?

 

[WerbyFord]

Explorer,
The "Gonkulator" puts your build at 197hp [gross] with the 8007 390 Holley on top, just about the perfect size. It has 1-1/16 venturis and 1-7/16 throttle bores all around. The 390cfm was the first 4150/4160 Holley size ever, introduced in 1957 on the y-block. The one I have was OEM on an International Harvester v8 so these carbs have done all kinds of pedestrian duty - if you call the 312/245hp of 1957 "pedestrian".....

Watch out for the 6299, the 390cfm Holley with the reverse power valve for 4-cyl pulsing but other than that the 8007 should be a good choice.

The only "Carb Shootouts" I've done so far with the 390Holley were on a v8 car that wanted a much bigger carb but it did well for its small size. I'm planning a formal "Carb Shootout" on the clock that includes the 390 Holley vs some Autolite 4100s but it is not done yet.

Other choices are limited, the 500cfm 1.12 Autolite 4100 is too big, the 440cfm 1.08 Autolite 4100 is just a tad too big but in the "ok" range I think but they are hard to find. Pony's 480cfm "spread bore" 4100 seems too big but with its little 1.00 venturis might do very well, I have no experience running these.

The Edel/Carter series is very well behaved in my experience but the smallest one is 500cfm I think, also too big. There used to be a 400cfm Carter AFB but those are very rare too. The old Rochester 4g carb also has a 400cfm version but again they are rare and might need a special adapter.

Too bad that little Pinto/Weber/Holley 5200-2v didn't come as a 4v, that is one of my favorite carbs. And at about 2x203=406cfm at 1.5" Hg for two of em that would also be an ideal size for your build.

 

[Explorer]

WerbyFord, thank you again! The 8007 seems to be a lot easier to find, I just couldn't find any specifics on it. I'll be carefull about the 6299. I like my Edelbrocks, but they are limited on smaller sizes.

 

[rbohm]

8) another carb to consider is the summit racing carb. they took the old 4010 holley and updated it. it only comes in 2 sizes though, 600 and 750cfm, but it is a vacuum secondary carb, and the price is pretty good at about $250 new. it uses holley parts as well so that makes getting part for the carb easy. i will say though that the 390 holley carb is hard to beat on a small engine.

 

[Explorer]

rbohm: Off topic, but curious about your 2 locations since Luray is so close.

 

[rbohm]

rbohm: Off topic, but curious about your 2 locations since Luray is so close.

8) one of these days i will update my location. i am in tucson now. i havent been back to virginia for a few years now.

 

[SoCar72]

Good to hear about the Holley 390cfm 8007 serving the small sixes well. I have one that I (eventually) would like to install in my '63 (with the CI head that I haven't bought yet). I haven't decided whether or not to stick with a 170 or step up to a 200. Regardless, my calculations indicate that the 390 would be a tad large for the 170 but right nice on a 200.

The "Pony" 4100 480cfm is actually a 600 with sleeved primaries to reduce the them down to the stock 480 size, however the secondaries remain stock 600. This effectively makes the carb somewhere around a 540cfm, though I don't believe Pony has flow rated the combo for confirmation. My cousin just put one on his F-150 302 with great success. It should be a great choice for the 300 big sixes.

 

[Harte3]

A 4160/1848-1 465cfm originally made, IIRC, for small block FE's and are a current Holley production item.

400 cfm AFB 9410s another good size but as mentioned, it's a bit rare. Originally used on engines like the MOPAR 273.